Partnerships between Australian universities and the not-for-profit organisation Asha are opening up new education pathways for students from Delhi’s slum communities, with several now progressing to postgraduate study in Australia through full equity scholarships.
The initiative was highlighted at the Australia India Institute’s event, “Transforming Lives Through Education: In Conversation with Asha Founder Dr Kiran Martin”, held at the University of Melbourne on Wednesday. The discussion brought together Dr Martin and Australia India Institute chief executive the Hon. Lisa Singh, focusing on how long-term collaboration between institutions in Australia and community organisations in India is shaping access to higher education.
Dr Martin spoke about the work Asha has carried out over several decades in Delhi’s informal settlements, where education programs have supported students from school level through to university entry. She said the partnerships with Australian universities have extended those opportunities further, enabling students to pursue master’s degrees abroad.
“For decades, young people growing up in Delhi’s slums were told that higher education, leadership, and global opportunities were beyond their reach,” Dr Martin said.
“Today, through extraordinary partnerships with Australian universities, those same young people are studying for Masters degrees in Australia on full equity scholarships.
“This is not charity. It is the unlocking of human potential.
“These partnerships are transforming not only individual lives, but entire families and communities, and they are creating future leaders who will go back and help reshape India itself.”
The programs supported through Asha and Australian institutions are among the first of their kind to provide structured postgraduate pathways for students from India’s slum communities, including full scholarship support and academic placement in Australia.
At the University of Melbourne, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global, Culture and Engagement) Professor Michael Wesley spoke about the university’s involvement in the initiative, including the Melbourne Welcoming Universities Scholarship – Asha, which this year supported a student from Delhi into a master’s program.
“Every time we provide an opportunity to a talented student like those supported by Asha, we see the transformative power of education, not just for that individual, but for the communities and generations that follow,” Professor Wesley said.
“At the University of Melbourne, we are committed to opening up these life-changing pathways, one student at a time.
“By bringing together exceptional minds from diverse backgrounds and experiences, we help nurture the next generation of leaders whose unique perspectives will enable societies to thrive and foster a peaceful, collaborative, and prosperous future for all.”
Australia India Institute chief executive Lisa Singh also reflected on the broader impact of the partnerships, noting the role of education in strengthening ties between Australia and India.
“Through Asha’s partnerships with institutions like the University of Melbourne, young people are gaining opportunities that were once unimaginable, not just changing individual lives, but strengthening families and communities.”
The collaboration between Asha and Australian universities continues to evolve, with a focus on expanding access to higher education for students from marginalised backgrounds in India and building sustained academic links between the two countries.
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